Improvement in tobacco-plug labels and fasteners



C. C. MENGEL, Jr. 8g C R. MENGEL. ToBAcco-PLUG LABEL; AND FASTENERS;

Patented Jan. 30,*1877.

Inl/wahr.'

'Wivzeaaw/ gn/JU N.PI:TERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPM ER, WASHINGTON, D C4 UNITED "ifs-TETES;

PATENT "GEEICE CHARLES C. MENerEL, JE., .AND CLARENCE n. MENCEL, or LOUISVILLE,

KENTUCKY.

" ynviPtzcivi-:IVIENT IN ToBAcco-PLUGLABELS AND FASTENERS.

Specification forming part offLetters 1Patent No. 186,745, dated January 30, 1877 application iledA May 3, 1876.

To all'whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, CHARLES C. MENGEL, Jr., and CLARENCE R. MENGEL, of Louisville, in the county of J ei'erson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain Improvements in Combined Fastening Device and Label for Plug- Tobacco, of which the following is a specification Our invention consists in securing the wrapper or enveloping -leaf of a tobacco-plug in place by means of a metallic fastening device, and in a peculiar form of said device, which may be adopted in case it is desired to have the device serve also as a label, whereby we are enabled to secure the wrapper firmly in place; to employ smaller and cheaper wrappers than usual; to give the plugs a neater nish than when made in the ordinary manner; to provide, in case 1t is so desired, a means of applying the name or brand; and to provide a means 'of readily distinguishing the tobacco at sight.

Hitherto it has been the practice to envelop tobacco-plugs with a wrapper of fine leaf-tobacco, and to secure the same in place by twisting it together at one end, and tucking this twisted portion into the body ofthe plug;

but to this plan there are serious objections, the more important of which are the insecurity of the fastening, and the consequent danger of the wrapper becoming loose; the necessity of using large and expensive wrappers; the unfinished and objectionable appearance of the end of the plug at which the wrapper is twisted; and the fact that the end in which the twisted wrapper is inserted is thereby' rendered dry and unpalatable, and consequently worthless.

It is to overcome these difficulties, and attain the benecial results before mentioned, that. our invention is intended; and to this end it consists in the employment of metal fastenings or tags, having a portion to ft against the end of the tag and hold the Wrapper, and one or more vpoints or arms to enter the plug and retain the device in place.

The form of the device is immaterial and subject to modification, provided it has the retaining point or points, and is adapted to hold the wrapper.

Figure l represents a perspective view of a plug of tobacco made in the usual manner, with the twisted wrapper. Fig. 2 represents a similar view of a plug having our fastening device applied thereto. Fig. 3 represents a sectional view on the line x a: of Fig. 2, showing clearly the manner in which the device is applied and held, and the manner in which it retains the wrapper. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are views showing different forms of the device.

A represents the plug, and B the fastening device, the latter consisting simply of a flat portion, a, to lit against the end of the plug, provided with one or more points or arms, b, standing at rightangles thereto, to enter the end of the plug and retain the device in place thereon. :l

Figs. 4 and 5 represent the device made of sheet metal--the former with a single point or fastening-arm, and the latter with two of themwhile Fig. 6 represents a device of similar form, made of a single piece of wire, bent into proper shape, with its ends pointed to form the fastening-points.

The plug of tobacco is made and enveloped with the wrapper, as usual, the wrapper folded down on the end, and then the device applied, as shown, in which position it secures the wrapper firmly, and gives the plug a neat and tinished appearance. When thus secured the wrapper-or envelope may be much smaller and cheaper than when applied in the usual manner, and thus the cost of lmanufacture is materially reduced, while at the same time the appearance ot' the plug is improved, and the danger of its being injured by handling lessened. Moreover, when the wrapper is secured by our device, so that the insertion of the twisted wrapperat the end is avoided,`

the entire plug will be found palatable and t for use, whereby the usual loss is avoided, and a corresponding amount in effect added to each plug.

In addition to securing the wrapper, the device also serves as a distinguishing mark, by which the plugs thus prepared can be instantly recognized by the purchaser or consumer. The device, when made of sheet metal, also forms a neat, and in every respect excellent, means of applying the name or mark of the manufacturer or the brand of the tobacco, which can be stamped thereon or otherwise applied thereto in a cheap and permanent manner. When, however, this is not considered desirable, the device may be made of an ornamental form, and stamped or otherwise ornamented, to render the plugs attractivein appearance.

It will, of course, be understoodthat the main purpose of the device is to secure the wrapper, and that, as its ,employment as a label is an incidental matter, it may be made of the skeleton form represented in Fig. 6, Without the flat surface for the label.

CHARLES C. MEN-EL, JR. CLARENCE R. MENGEL.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL S. SMITH, LEVIN L. ANDERSON. 

